As a church elder, I am a front-line witness to The Great Dechurching, but not in the way you'd expect. We have made decisions to be counter-cultural for an American church, and it has hurt us. We intend to stay the course, but a lot of people are church-shopping for a place that will tickle their ears with what they want to hear. Here are the decisions we've made that have caused us to lose congregants:
- No lead pastor but a plurality of elders to diversify the voices from the pulpit and prevent the idolatry, celebrity, and dependency inherent in appointing one person the head of the congregation
- Politically homeless and Jesus only, not "Jesus, and..." (read: no Christian nationalism or culture wars in our church)
- Grace and the New Covenant are our guiding principles; we behave as if we were forgiven once and for all, because we were
- Our essentials are few and non-negotiable, but all else is open to conversation and differing views without presuming the apostasy of those who hold them.
The Western church has fallen prey to worldly measures of success, i e., money, numbers, and power, yet I'm reminded of the story of Gideon. I am not afraid of the 3-5% faithful remnant because it's faithful first and foremost, and it yields to God and gives Him the glory as Gideon did when he whittled his army from 30,000 to 300 so God could give him the victory.
So happy to read this; you’ve described my dream church! (Although I have found a church that’s pretty close, thanks be to God.) Yes, do stay the course!
I think immigrants and minorities may very well help carry on Christianity in the West. But I believe the decline began well before 2008. I do think the digital age has accelerated it, by atomizing the way we take in information and by encouraging shallow thinking. Especially the latter. I haven’t read her book yet, but I believe Karen Swallow Prior is on to something when she describes how we’ve lost our moral imagination and have lost touch with the roots of our cultural assumptions and the disciplines that shape our imaginations well.
I honestly don’t think our current age encourages more self-worship as much as encourages it in a different way, but I think there has been a reckoning with authority that is a good thing. People are learning that their value doesn’t necessarily lie in what others think of them or tell them they have to be and do. Unfortunately, since the church has done such a poor job of representing God, proper authority isn’t so easy to find.
I was hoping you brought into the discussion those who still are passionate about Jesus but not so keen on the institutional church. It's hard not to be critical but there is so much that is unbiblical about it. I could go on, but I just wanted to make the point that there are some of us who have stepped away from "church" not because we "lost" our faith, but because we wanted to "save" our faith.
On the technology issue, I just happened to read Postman's 'Amusing ourselves to death' today. Although written 40 years ago, he makes the point that technology is not neutral but shapes culture and the current technologies shaping our lives are not helpful to the spread of the Gospel.
Now, could it be that the decline in church attendance and adherence to Christianity be also a result of, besides the evident hypocrisy and bad examples,
1. TedTalk-like sermons (like you mentioned sometime ago) which may be entertaining, inspirational, and informative, but offer nothing for spiritual growth and a more profound knowledge of God (Col. 1:9-10).
2. Biblical truths (e.g., holiness, resurrection of believers, the coming dominion of God) have been placed in a storage unit and replaced by sermons that are more like therapy sessions or inspirational retreats.
I haven’t heard a sermon about the resurrection of believers or the coming of the new age in many years, neither in my church nor the radio in many years. I consider these two as the core of biblical preaching because they encompass the message of the whole Scriptures.
These two biblical themes are the one that give hope to the believers, strengthen the faith, promotes holy living, and strengthen the spiritual bond between believers.
3. There is a lack of apologetics teaching. Jesus commissioned his disciples as witnesses of his resurrection, however, everyone talks about “going to heaven.” And the sad thing is that believers are not equipped to provide an answer whenever they are inquired about their hope (point 2 above).
4. Excessive focus on morality (i.e., culture wars) and politics (especially in the United States).
5. What does church offer today that I can’t find outside church? Let me put it this way. Some years ago, a pastor and his team was brainstorming about how to make a youth program more attractive. They talked about gaming, basketball hoops, trips, etc. I said that they already have access to that in Boys and Girls Club, the Library, at school, home, and other public places targeting the youth. Why would the church do things to attract them when they can get it anywhere in town? The church is offering nothing new. Besides, if it does, it looses its real meaning to them.
I argue that the gospel the church preaches sounds very different from the gospel the Apostles and Paul preached. Besides that, Christians today live, eats, dress, talks, participate, and have the same values and priorities as those who don’t believe. So why would anyone go to church and be a Christian if there’s no difference in lifestyle and philosophy other than believing in an old book and some impractical mystical stuff?
Islam offers a different way of life that is distinct and separated from the non Muslim. There is an otherness in Islam that makes the religion outstanding from the rest of the world. This holiness (separation) is what makes it distinct and attractive. No wonder Islam is growing really fast.
Christianity nowadays offers no distinctiveness, no holy living, no otherness, just confessions. That’s boring!
6. Singing is about me rather than God and his marvelous deeds (Psalms 96, 97, 98). And the theology of these songs is terrible, borderline heretical (some of the are truly heretical). It’s like the “me” movement is dominating church theology! Boring, it’s no different from my social surroundings.
7. Where did the power of the Holy Spirit go? I am sure NT Wright can say very good things about the active presence and power of the Holy Spirit. But the reality is that churches don’t teach nor encourage believers to the experience of the Holy Spirit. It’s interesting that Jesus told his disciples “the Father will give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him” in the context of the Father givings good gifts to his children as earthly fathers give gifts to their children. Perhaps that section of the gospels isn’t read anymore!
I have many more thing to say. And perhaps I am biased because of my Pentecostal upbringing. But I have been a Christian since age 12 (56 now). There’s been times in which I am not too spiritual, I confess, but I have never left the church nor the faith.
My anchor is the gospel of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. My hope is the resurrection of believers and the coming dominion of God. The focus of my constant study is the resurrection of Jesus and it’s historical fact. I am his witness on earth and I am prepared to provide an answer to those who ask.
It’s the message of resurrection that make the church unique (of course, forgiveness of sins is embedded in this message). And this is revolutionary: although I will die one day and all the present things will pass, God will make all things new and will resurrect me to keep on living in his new creation. This is mind blowing. Of course I want to be Christian!
"Forty million Americans have stopped attending church in the past 25 years. That’s something like 12 percent of the population, and it represents the largest concentrated change in church attendance in American history." I think such a discussion needs to include a breakdown of who is actually leaving. I have seen some studies that education may play a factor, with the less educated being the ones more likely to not attend. Who is leaving? What type (denomination, style of workship, theology, etc...) of churches did such people attend? Etc...
This. Also, we have to account for the fact that there were people who always attended church out of social pressure and expectation rather than genuine faith, and now that that pressure is gone they've left.
I think you make some salient points, but I also think that your article shows one of the great issues that are unmentioned: the over focus on sexuality as an issue. I understand there are disagreements about secual ethics even among Christians and I agree secular culture is sexualized to an extent that puts it at odds with Christianity.
However, the focus on sexuality has subsumed everything. Look how often it came up in this article. I think that it is combined with Moore on this point: not only are many churches not practicing Christian ethics and morality consistently, but those that do put way more focus on sexual ethics than the Good News.
I almost feel like we are more attached to a Pauline idea of celibacy and rejection of sexuality than the kerygma and its focus on good news to the poor and reconciliation.
Do not misunderstand me: there is a component of Christianity that is concerned with sexuality, but it has become the defining element of Christianity, not the Gospel.
The first Moore quote is shocking but also not. Your para that starts with, “Second...” reads spot on to me. What would I add? Scientism’s pull. Certainly, this was foundational in my drift to atheism (along with church hypocrisy already mentioned & the old evil/suffering chestnut). Then I studied physics & learnt the error of my ways. When science is as misunderstood as it is, when people see it as the supreme source of knowledge (ironically as that sits with rabid self expression), there is no need and no space for a God.
As a church elder, I am a front-line witness to The Great Dechurching, but not in the way you'd expect. We have made decisions to be counter-cultural for an American church, and it has hurt us. We intend to stay the course, but a lot of people are church-shopping for a place that will tickle their ears with what they want to hear. Here are the decisions we've made that have caused us to lose congregants:
- No lead pastor but a plurality of elders to diversify the voices from the pulpit and prevent the idolatry, celebrity, and dependency inherent in appointing one person the head of the congregation
- Politically homeless and Jesus only, not "Jesus, and..." (read: no Christian nationalism or culture wars in our church)
- Grace and the New Covenant are our guiding principles; we behave as if we were forgiven once and for all, because we were
- Our essentials are few and non-negotiable, but all else is open to conversation and differing views without presuming the apostasy of those who hold them.
The Western church has fallen prey to worldly measures of success, i e., money, numbers, and power, yet I'm reminded of the story of Gideon. I am not afraid of the 3-5% faithful remnant because it's faithful first and foremost, and it yields to God and gives Him the glory as Gideon did when he whittled his army from 30,000 to 300 so God could give him the victory.
Ron, good thoughts.
So happy to read this; you’ve described my dream church! (Although I have found a church that’s pretty close, thanks be to God.) Yes, do stay the course!
I think immigrants and minorities may very well help carry on Christianity in the West. But I believe the decline began well before 2008. I do think the digital age has accelerated it, by atomizing the way we take in information and by encouraging shallow thinking. Especially the latter. I haven’t read her book yet, but I believe Karen Swallow Prior is on to something when she describes how we’ve lost our moral imagination and have lost touch with the roots of our cultural assumptions and the disciplines that shape our imaginations well.
I honestly don’t think our current age encourages more self-worship as much as encourages it in a different way, but I think there has been a reckoning with authority that is a good thing. People are learning that their value doesn’t necessarily lie in what others think of them or tell them they have to be and do. Unfortunately, since the church has done such a poor job of representing God, proper authority isn’t so easy to find.
I was hoping you brought into the discussion those who still are passionate about Jesus but not so keen on the institutional church. It's hard not to be critical but there is so much that is unbiblical about it. I could go on, but I just wanted to make the point that there are some of us who have stepped away from "church" not because we "lost" our faith, but because we wanted to "save" our faith.
On the technology issue, I just happened to read Postman's 'Amusing ourselves to death' today. Although written 40 years ago, he makes the point that technology is not neutral but shapes culture and the current technologies shaping our lives are not helpful to the spread of the Gospel.
Great post Dr. Bird.
Now, could it be that the decline in church attendance and adherence to Christianity be also a result of, besides the evident hypocrisy and bad examples,
1. TedTalk-like sermons (like you mentioned sometime ago) which may be entertaining, inspirational, and informative, but offer nothing for spiritual growth and a more profound knowledge of God (Col. 1:9-10).
2. Biblical truths (e.g., holiness, resurrection of believers, the coming dominion of God) have been placed in a storage unit and replaced by sermons that are more like therapy sessions or inspirational retreats.
I haven’t heard a sermon about the resurrection of believers or the coming of the new age in many years, neither in my church nor the radio in many years. I consider these two as the core of biblical preaching because they encompass the message of the whole Scriptures.
These two biblical themes are the one that give hope to the believers, strengthen the faith, promotes holy living, and strengthen the spiritual bond between believers.
3. There is a lack of apologetics teaching. Jesus commissioned his disciples as witnesses of his resurrection, however, everyone talks about “going to heaven.” And the sad thing is that believers are not equipped to provide an answer whenever they are inquired about their hope (point 2 above).
4. Excessive focus on morality (i.e., culture wars) and politics (especially in the United States).
5. What does church offer today that I can’t find outside church? Let me put it this way. Some years ago, a pastor and his team was brainstorming about how to make a youth program more attractive. They talked about gaming, basketball hoops, trips, etc. I said that they already have access to that in Boys and Girls Club, the Library, at school, home, and other public places targeting the youth. Why would the church do things to attract them when they can get it anywhere in town? The church is offering nothing new. Besides, if it does, it looses its real meaning to them.
I argue that the gospel the church preaches sounds very different from the gospel the Apostles and Paul preached. Besides that, Christians today live, eats, dress, talks, participate, and have the same values and priorities as those who don’t believe. So why would anyone go to church and be a Christian if there’s no difference in lifestyle and philosophy other than believing in an old book and some impractical mystical stuff?
Islam offers a different way of life that is distinct and separated from the non Muslim. There is an otherness in Islam that makes the religion outstanding from the rest of the world. This holiness (separation) is what makes it distinct and attractive. No wonder Islam is growing really fast.
Christianity nowadays offers no distinctiveness, no holy living, no otherness, just confessions. That’s boring!
6. Singing is about me rather than God and his marvelous deeds (Psalms 96, 97, 98). And the theology of these songs is terrible, borderline heretical (some of the are truly heretical). It’s like the “me” movement is dominating church theology! Boring, it’s no different from my social surroundings.
7. Where did the power of the Holy Spirit go? I am sure NT Wright can say very good things about the active presence and power of the Holy Spirit. But the reality is that churches don’t teach nor encourage believers to the experience of the Holy Spirit. It’s interesting that Jesus told his disciples “the Father will give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him” in the context of the Father givings good gifts to his children as earthly fathers give gifts to their children. Perhaps that section of the gospels isn’t read anymore!
I have many more thing to say. And perhaps I am biased because of my Pentecostal upbringing. But I have been a Christian since age 12 (56 now). There’s been times in which I am not too spiritual, I confess, but I have never left the church nor the faith.
My anchor is the gospel of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. My hope is the resurrection of believers and the coming dominion of God. The focus of my constant study is the resurrection of Jesus and it’s historical fact. I am his witness on earth and I am prepared to provide an answer to those who ask.
It’s the message of resurrection that make the church unique (of course, forgiveness of sins is embedded in this message). And this is revolutionary: although I will die one day and all the present things will pass, God will make all things new and will resurrect me to keep on living in his new creation. This is mind blowing. Of course I want to be Christian!
This is an interesting take on the UK situation. https://www.psephizo.com/life-ministry/is-church-attendance-in-england-and-wales-in-decline/
"Forty million Americans have stopped attending church in the past 25 years. That’s something like 12 percent of the population, and it represents the largest concentrated change in church attendance in American history." I think such a discussion needs to include a breakdown of who is actually leaving. I have seen some studies that education may play a factor, with the less educated being the ones more likely to not attend. Who is leaving? What type (denomination, style of workship, theology, etc...) of churches did such people attend? Etc...
This. Also, we have to account for the fact that there were people who always attended church out of social pressure and expectation rather than genuine faith, and now that that pressure is gone they've left.
Rick, yes, I think the Protestant mainliners are the main loosers, Catholics and Evangelicals less so but still in a noticeable way.
I think you make some salient points, but I also think that your article shows one of the great issues that are unmentioned: the over focus on sexuality as an issue. I understand there are disagreements about secual ethics even among Christians and I agree secular culture is sexualized to an extent that puts it at odds with Christianity.
However, the focus on sexuality has subsumed everything. Look how often it came up in this article. I think that it is combined with Moore on this point: not only are many churches not practicing Christian ethics and morality consistently, but those that do put way more focus on sexual ethics than the Good News.
I almost feel like we are more attached to a Pauline idea of celibacy and rejection of sexuality than the kerygma and its focus on good news to the poor and reconciliation.
Do not misunderstand me: there is a component of Christianity that is concerned with sexuality, but it has become the defining element of Christianity, not the Gospel.
Luke, I think all the cultural war debates somehow revolve around sex and death.
The first Moore quote is shocking but also not. Your para that starts with, “Second...” reads spot on to me. What would I add? Scientism’s pull. Certainly, this was foundational in my drift to atheism (along with church hypocrisy already mentioned & the old evil/suffering chestnut). Then I studied physics & learnt the error of my ways. When science is as misunderstood as it is, when people see it as the supreme source of knowledge (ironically as that sits with rabid self expression), there is no need and no space for a God.